The annual San Diego Comic-Con takes over the San Diego Convention Center this weekend, and this year marks the 45th anniversary of the mega-sized fan event. Comic-Con of course celebrates, honors and centers on not just comic books but also movies, video games, television shows and toys, and it’s the latter that we’re here to shine the spotlight on today.
Each year, toy companies bring both upcoming offerings and special exclusives to Comic-Con, and 2015 is absolutely loaded with limited edition goodies tailor-made for horror fans. Unsurprisingly, it’s the dominant companies like NECA and Funko that are responsible for most of this year’s best exclusive toys, and both have outdone themselves here.
On the eve of San Diego Comic-Con, let’s preview the 10 Coolest Horror Exclusive Toys that will be up for grabs at the event and, if we’re lucky, in limited quantities here on the internet!
SDCC Horror Toys
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SDCC Horror Toys #1
Friday the 13th Clothed 8″ Action Figures – 35th Anniv. Pamela Voorhees & Young Jason
This year marks the 35th anniversary of Friday the 13th's theatrical release, and NECA celebrates with a two-pack that is perhaps this year's most must-own exclusive. A loving tribute to both the original film and the late Betsy Palmer, the special set includes both Mrs. Voorhees and young Jason, both of which are coming our way in NECA's trademark retro style. Jason and his loving mother are decked out in real fabric clothing and come with a slew of accessories. The two-pack is especially notable, as young Jason has never before been given the action figure treatment.
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SDCC Horror Toys #2
Pop! Movies: Jason Voorhees Unmasked
As if there wasn't already enough Friday the 13th love at this year's Comic-Con, Funko also celebrates the classic film's anniversary with an exclusive variant of their Jason Voorhees POP! vinyl toy. It was several years back that the company inducted the horror icon into their fan-favorite POP! line, and his infamous hockey mask comes off with this limited edition. It's hard to say which Friday the 13th film Funko used as inspiration for the unmasked look, as it appears to be a sort of amalgam of various designs. If there's one thing I'm sure of, Jason's ugly mug has never looked so adorable.
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SDCC Horror Toys #3
Pop! TV: American Horror Story: Freak Show – Twisty Unmasked
Jason isn't the only one losing his mask for the 2015 Comic-Con, as American Horror Story: Freak Show's terrifying Twisty the Clown similarly sheds his disfigurement-hiding disguise. Available in limited quantities at Funko's booth, this POP! vinyl variant depicts an unmasked Twisty, based on the origin story presented during the show's ratings-shattering fourth season. To make a long story short, a ridiculed Twisty attempted to kill himself by putting a shotgun in his mouth, and the horrifying results of that botched suicide are represented in this cute and cuddly vinyl toy.
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SDCC Horror Toys #4
Pop! TV Bryan Fuller — Hannibal
Earlier this year, Funko released POP! vinyl toys based on NBC's recently cancelled TV series Hannibal, including Dr. Lecter, Will Graham, and Jack Crawford. At Comic-Con, they add series creator Bryan Fuller to the line, and Fuller will be on-hand Friday afternoon to sign the toys for fans. The Fuller POP! isn't just one of the most unique horror toys exclusive to the event but also one of the most limited, as only 144 of them will be up for grabs… and they'll only be available during Fuller's signing session. So if you're a Hannibal fan and you're going to be at Comic-Con, be sure to hop on that line as soon as you possibly can.
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SDCC Horror Toys #5
Ambush Predator
NECA has recently set their sights on recreating Kenner's Predator toys of the 1990s in their own highly-detailed style, and one of the company's big exclusives this year is a modern day upgrade of Kenner's Ambush Predator. Almost entirely translucent, Ambush Predator was a special mail-away item back in the 90s, and so I suppose it only makes sense that he's now been turned into a Comic-Con exclusive. Housed in retro-style packaging, Ambush Predator includes not one but two removable masks, as well as two battle blades and a removable backpack. A welcome addition to any Predator fan's toy collection.
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SDCC Horror Toys #6
ReAction: Jaws – Bloody Quint and Shark
Steven Spielberg's Jaws finally gets a series of action figures courtesy of Funko this summer. The company adds Quint, Brody, Hooper and the shark to their period-authentic ReAction line. Those toys have begun hitting shelves, and at Comic-Con Funko is adding this exclusive two-pack to the mix. The set brings Quint's gruesome death scene to your toy shelf, and includes bloody variants of both Quint and the razor-toothed menace that made a meal out of him. Can't say I ever thought I'd be able to recreate Quint's demise with toys, so this is needless to say one exclusive that I simply need to own.
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SDCC Horror Toys #7
Universal Monsters Haunted Crypt
It was the company Super7 that originally gave rise to the ReAction line with a set of Alien toys, and the line completely blew up in the wake of them joining forces with Funko. The two again partner for this Universal Monsters Haunted Crypt set, which will only be available at Super7's Comic-Con booth. In addition to an injected plastic mausoleum, the set contains ReAction Figures of Frankenstein's monster, the Mummy, the Creature from the Black Lagoon and the Wolf Man, all of which have been specially cast in translucent blue glow-in-the-dark plastic. The set will sell for $65, and it's limited to one per person.
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SDCC Horror Toys #8
ReAction Figures Haunted House Playset
Super7 is also bringing the first ever ReAction Figure playset to this year's Comic-Con. Thankfully for us horror fans, they've decided to whip up a haunted house that's sized to fit the retro-style action figures. Measuring 25" wide and 20" tall, the ReAction Figures Haunted House Playset is a three-storied mansion packed with trap doors, secret passages and hidden rooms. With over 60 individually painted panels, the company says it's the most complex toy they've ever produced, and like all of the ReAction Figures, it's made to look exactly like the sort of toy you'd find back in the 1970s. You can grab one for $75, and they're again limited to one per person.
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SDCC Horror Toys #9
Vinyl Idolz: Ghostbusters – Slimed Dr. Peter Venkman
Funko's Vinyl Idolz line is quite a bit different than their POP! vinyl line. The Idolz are long and slim while the POP!s are short and stout. Ghostbusters characters Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz and Egon Spengler were some of the first to make their way into the Vinyl Idolz line, and at Comic-Con the company presents a slimed variant of Venkman. With the gooey green remains of Slimer splattered all over him, this Peter Venkman Vinyl Idolz toy is limited to just 500 pieces. Ghostbusters fans will also want to stop by the Diamond Select Toys booth, as they'll have a logo pizza cutter and a Stay Puft bottle opener up for grabs.
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SDCC Horror Toys #10
Falcon Tar-Martian
It's not just the big companies that bring special exclusives to Comic-Con, but also independents like Falcon Toys. Available exclusively this year at the DKE Toys booth is this custom-made Return of the Tar-Martian action figure, which mashes together the worlds of Mars Attacks! and Return of the Living Dead. Featuring full articulation, only 15 of the bootleg toys are being brought to the event, and they each include a glow-in-the-dark brain accessory and come packaged on an art-emblazoned cardback. The company recently put out a They Live-inspired Mars Attacks toy, and I'd say that the Tar-Martian makes for one hell of a companion piece.
